Rack n’ Ruin tells the story of a demon named Rack, who is on his final chance. This time he is playing with fire, and he is on his last legs. He might have successfully taken down asteroids, but now he is tasked with destroying a civilized world. Albeit one that’s a tad more fantastical. This world hasn’t evolved beyond the medieval era, so it shouldn’t be too hard, right? Our Demon Lord is a snarky Invader Zim style being. He’s not one for dealing with things in the right way and is quite chaotic. Rack doesn’t want to talk to people or even a dead ally that appears from time to time. This little jerk thinks he knows what’s best and will do anything to prove he isn’t wrong. He’s failed so many times, yet he still thinks he’s number one, and that could lead to his downfall. His pride is unearned yet, don’t tell him that.
This game plays out as an Action RPG and a bullet hell simultaneously. Players must navigate old school Zelda styled worlds taking out the good guys and solving puzzles. The enemies shoot massive amounts of bullets or attack with other means. It might take a while to warm up to it all, but it gets good fast. This game is a chaotic adventure, and it doesn’t disappoint. Players will find and use over twenty-eight different spells and items. Use them wisely or go crazy it’s up to the player. Rack, wants to cause as much mayhem as possible, so never shy away from causing chaos. As a demon Rack, is fine destroying anything and won’t feel a shred of sadness for killing everyone.
The game itself is top-down and plays quickly. Players will run between areas taking down enemies as they go. Players can dodge the enemies, but that is often more trouble than its worth. This game requires concentration and, it makes sense to take them out as they come. Players often have to face multiple enemies which, can make things hard. The player will land on this medieval world and immediately given the power of fire. This ability will never cost magic and is always useable. It will be the force the demon uses, so get used to it. Players can hold the button down to keep firing, and this might be of help. The player will need to aim, but repeated firing is always a help, especially in close quarters.
As Rack travels the world, he will change things from beautiful to a hellscape. Rack, will destroy everything he comes across, and soon the world will be nothing like it was at the start. It’s astounding how dark he will make the world, and the player feels proud of him. I at least felt proud that this failure was doing right by his bosses for once. Players will travel through many different areas. They will pillage castles and dungeons, terrorize prisons, and even awaken evil entities. Rack will do everything he can to take down civilization, and it is up to the player to help him. It’s wonderful to see him slowly but surely wipe everyone out as they often don’t seem to care. He might be indiscriminate, but he is just doing his job.
Rack will take on a myriad of foes, but the townsfolk he meets will also be helpful. Taking them out will give the villain souls. These souls are necessary to strengthen Rack’s abilities. This vicious monster will take all the souls he can get, and it is lovely watching him use the souls for an actual purpose. There are plenty of puzzles for the player to take on as they play this vicious game. While bullet hell games might be tedious at times, the puzzles break up the monotony. Take them on and uncover over one hundred secrets as the player scours the world. The number of secrets should make any player happy as they can spend more time in this zany world.
Rack n Ruin is a chaotic adventure and is quite fun. It’s a challenging game at times, and players need to be ready for anything. The game can often become a brutal shooter, and it might not always be easy. But with a little determination, the player should get through it just fine.
Disclaimer: A review key was provided